Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $34,340 a year ($16.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,250 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,510 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 8% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $31,840. There are 2.4 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $35,210, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,030 | $14.92 |
| 25th percentile | $31,230 | $15.02 |
| Median | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| 75th percentile | $36,550 | $17.57 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,510 | $18.99 |
| Average (mean) | $35,210 | $16.93 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,861.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,430.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,320.77 |
| Weekly | $660.38 |
| Hourly | $16.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $35,670 | 12,200 |
| Springfield, IL | $34,800 | 240 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $34,580 | 330 |
| Decatur, IL | $33,710 | 100 |
| Peoria, IL | $33,700 | 490 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $33,620 | 2,260 |
| Bloomington, IL | $33,540 | 230 |
| Columbia, MO | $32,800 | 330 |
| Kankakee, IL | $32,430 | 240 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,730 | 630 |
| Rockford, IL | $31,670 | 470 |
| Springfield, MO | $31,130 | 410 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $30,370 | 200 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $30,210 | 150 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $30,210 | 130 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $30,090 | 180 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
See Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in every state or the Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,260 | $15.03 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,860 | $14.84 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,930 | $15.35 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,400 | $15.58 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,200 | $17.40 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dishwasher | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,480 | $31.00 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,490 | $18.50 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $28,600 | $13.75 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food servers, nonrestaurant make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $34,340 a year, or $16.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $39,510 a year. The top 25% earn $36,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,030 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $31,230 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 3,250 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.